1% of athletes go pro. 100% become adults.And that stat should change how you coach forever.Most coaches obsess about the 1%.The scholarship. The starting spot. The contract. The trophy.But if 100% of kids become adults, what’s the ROI of sports really supposed to be?It’s not wins and losses.It’s not banners and rings.It’s not even making varsity.The ROI of sport is who your athletes become because of it.Mistake #1: Defining kids by performance instead of identity. When you treat players like their batting average or their playing time, you crush their confidence.When you treat them like people, you expand their potential.👉 Sport should be an identity builder, not an identity thief.Mistake #2: Confusing toughness with talent.Talent might win today. Toughness wins life.Kids who learn resilience, grit, and adaptability through sports carry it into careers, marriages, and leadership.👉 Tough times fade. Tough people last.Mistake #3: Forgetting the scoreboard expires.Every win, every loss is gone in a week.But the habits, lessons, and relationships forged in sports? They echo decades later.👉 The real scoreboard is measured in character, not stats.The autotelic verdict:Values and traits last. Wins and losses don’t.So stop chasing the 1%.Coach for the 100%.Because in the end, who your athletes become is the only "championship" that matters.

STRATEGY1. "What’s the end goal here?" ↳ Aiming to clarify the long-term vision and align efforts.2. "How does this decision align with our priorities?"↳ Ensuring every action supports the broader strategy.3. "Let’s think two steps ahead."↳ Encouraging forward-thinking and contingency planning.4. "What are we missing?"↳ Acknowledging blind spots and fostering comprehensive analysis.EMPOWERMENT5. "What do you think?"↳ Inviting diverse perspectives and empowering others to contribute.6. "This is your decision to make."↳ Trusting and delegating authority to team members.7. "Great work—how can we build on this?"↳ Celebrating wins while fostering a growth mindset.8. "What resources or support do you need?"↳ Ensuring teams have the tools to succeed.LEARNING9. "What can we learn from this?"↳ Turning mistakes or setbacks into opportunities for growth.10. "Let’s test and iterate."↳ Encouraging experimentation and agility.11. "What do the data and trends tell us?"↳ Anchoring decisions in evidence rather than assumptions.COMMUNICATION & CULTURE12. "Let’s break this down together."↳ Collaboratively addressing challenges to find actionable solutions.13. "Here’s why this matters."↳ Connecting tasks to the bigger picture to inspire and motivate.14. "Is this the right thing to do?"↳ Leading with integrity and reinforcing organizational values.15. "Success is a team effort."↳ Recognizing the collective contributions behind achievements.

9 Practical courses you can finish in under an hour.

Trust your team, give them freedom, and leave your ego at the door.

* Saying No Professional 

The things no course, coach, or classroom will prepare you for, by Desiree Gruber

If you're just getting started, these 11 tips are a great place to begin:

1. Introduce The Villain - Start with the problem you're solving. Be specific - what pain points does your audience face? When they relate to the problem, they'll stay engaged.

The power of words 

A leader’s ability to communicate clearly and effectively with employees, within teams, and across the organization is one of the foundations of a successful business.